Bear Bachmeier: Why does wear 47| Parents| Brothers| Is LDS

Introduction

Bear Bachmeier is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing storylines in college football. As the true freshman quarterback at BYU, he made history by being the first to start a season opener.

Fans and followers are curious about his backstory: why he chose jersey 47, who his parents and siblings are, and especially — Is Bear Bachmeier a member of the LDS church? This article delves into those questions and paints a detailed portrait of this young athlete.

Why Does Bear Bachmeier Wear Number 47?

One of the most common questions about Bear is: Why does he wear jersey number 47?

• Bear Bachmeier grew up playing other positions in youth football — including running back and middle linebacker — before settling into quarterback. That early positional variety helps explain his comfort with athleticism.

• The decision to keep 47 as his number at BYU is partly rooted in his early football identity. He has expressed his intention to continue wearing that number at BYU.

• Another interesting angle: his jersey number ties into his personal brand. On his social media, his handle is @bearb47 — reinforcing the connection between his name and number.

• Some articles also suggest that “47” was more of a default or preferred number from his youth or club days that stuck, and he decided to carry it forward as a symbol of continuity.

In short: 47 is more than just a random number — it’s part of his identity, a link to his earlier playing days, and now a signature for his college career. Bear Bachmeier 47.

Family & Roots: Parents and Siblings

Understanding Bear’s family gives insight into his upbringing and the support system behind his rise.

Parents: Michael and April Bachmeier

• Bear Bachmeier’s parents are Michael and April Bachmeier.

• His mother, April, is of Thai descent. She moved to the United States when she was about 5 years old and grew up on the East Coast.

• In interviews, she has said that athleticism and competitiveness in her children came partly from her side of the family.

• His father, Michael, is more private, but he played a strong role in the intellectual and disciplined side of their upbringing. The family encouraged books, critical thinking, and broad intellectual curiosity.

• For example, Bear has remarked that “My dad would hand us a Malcolm Gladwell book or economics books” in their youth.

Siblings: Hank, Tiger, Buck, and Ella

Bear is not the only athlete in his family. He has four siblings: three brothers and one sister.

• Hank Bachmeier

  • The oldest brother, Hank, is a former collegiate quarterback. He played at Boise State, then Louisiana Tech, and finally Wake Forest.

  • Hank has been a mentor and role model for Bear.

• Tiger Bachmeier

  • Tiger played two seasons at Stanford before transferring to BYU, joining Bear on the same team.

  • He now plays wide receiver and is part of BYU’s receiving corps.

• Buck Bachmeier

  • Less is publicly known about Buck, the third brother, but he is listed in the family roster.

• Ella Bachmeier

  • The only sister, Ella competes in heptathlon at the University of Redlands (a Division III program).

This athletic and academically inclined family environment helped foster Bear’s growth in multiple dimensions — physical, mental, and character.

Is Bear Bachmeier LDS (Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)?

One of the biggest curiosities around Bear is whether he is a member of the Latter-day Saints (LDS) faith, given that he plays quarterback for BYU, a university sponsored by the LDS Church.

• The short answer is: No, Bear Bachmeier is not LDS. Several sources indicate he was raised in the Catholic faith.

• On a YouTube video announcing his QB start, a comment states: “Bear isn’t a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon). He’s Catholic.”

• Wikipedia’s entry also notes that he was raised Catholic.

• He has mentioned being drawn to BYU not because of religious alignment, but because of the football culture, coaching, and program prestige.

• In an interview, he referenced how the family-oriented culture at BYU was appealing, but not that he was converting.

Thus, while Bear plays football at an institution deeply connected to the LDS Church, he maintains his Catholic background. This is a notable facet of his story — he’s an outsider in faith but embraced within program.

The Football Journey: From High School to BYU

To understand Bear’s trajectory, it helps to quickly review his football journey.

High School Performance

• Bear attended Murrieta Valley High School in Murrieta, California.

• He was a three-year starter.

• Over his high school career, he accounted for 6,810 yards passing, 59 passing touchdowns, and 1,724 rushing yards with 33 rushing touchdowns.

• He posted a dual-threat profile — able to beat defenses with both arm and legs.

• He was a highly recruited quarterback and drew interest from major programs like Alabama, Notre Dame, Oregon, Michigan, and others.

Stanford and the Transfer to BYU

• Bear originally committed to Stanford.

• He enrolled early and participated in spring practices.

• When Stanford underwent a coaching change, Bear (and his brother Tiger) entered the transfer portal.

• Both Bear and Tiger transferred to BYU.

• At BYU, Bear competed with McCae Hillstead and Treyson Bourguet for the starting quarterback job.

• He was named the starting QB for the season opener — making history as the first true freshman to do so at BYU.

Playing Style & Strengths

• Bear is praised for his processing speed, decision-making under pressure, and accuracy.

• Analysts have noted his average time from snap to throw is among the fastest nationally in multiple contexts.

• He shows composure and maturity beyond his age — teammates have commented “he doesn’t act like a freshman.”

Bear’s Unique Identity & Significance

Bear Bachmeier represents multiple interesting dimensions:

1. Cultural Heritage
   His Thai maternal lineage, combined with his American upbringing, gives him a unique Asian-American presence in college football — especially at quarterback.

2. Non-LDS in an LDS Setting
   He bridges two worlds: being a non-LDS athlete in an LDS-affiliated institution. That juxtaposition captures media attention and adds a narrative tension to his journey.

3. Young, Yet Poised
   To be trusted as a freshman to start at quarterback is rare. His maturity, football intelligence, and confidence make him stand out.

4. Family Legacy and Support
   Coming from a family of athletes and scholars, with high expectations and high support, Bear’s ascent seems a continuum of sibling and parental mentorship.

FAQs

Q1: Why does Bear Bachmeier wear jersey number 47?
A: He wore number 47 in his earlier youth and club football days, including as a running back and linebacker. He chose to keep 47 into his college career, and his social media handle “@bearb47” reinforces that identity. Bear Bachmeier 47.

Q2: Who are Bear Bachmeier’s parents?
A: His parents are Michael and April Bachmeier. His mother, April, is of Thai heritage, and his father Michael emphasized intellectual and disciplined growth in their household.

Q3: Who are Bear’s siblings and what do they do?
A:

• Hank: Former college QB at Boise State, Louisiana Tech, and Wake Forest

• Tiger: Played at Stanford, transferred to BYU & plays wide receiver

• Buck: Less publicly known, but part of the sibling group

• Ella: Heptathlete at University of Redlands

Q4: Is Bear Bachmeier a member of the LDS church?
A: No. Bear was raised Catholic and is not an LDS (Latter-day Saints) member.

Q5: Why did Bear choose to play at BYU if he is not LDS?
A: He has said that the decision was based more on football culture, coaching, opportunity, and the family-oriented environment at BYU. He was drawn to the program’s coaching and legacy, not religious alignment.

Q6: What makes Bear’s story so compelling?
A: There is a blend of narrative appeal — a freshman quarterback getting a historic start, a multiethnic background, a family steeped in athleticism, and the faith contrast of being a non-LDS in an LDS institution. He’s poised to make an impact both on and off the field.

Conclusion

Bear Bachmeier is more than just an emerging quarterback — he’s a rich narrative in motion. The story of why he wears 47 ties into his early athletic identity. His parents and siblings reflect a family that values both competition and intellect. And his faith status — not LDS, but Catholic — adds a unique layer to his presence at BYU.

As he progresses in his college career, watchers will not only track his statistics, but also how he navigates identity, expectation, and legacy. His journey is already compelling — and likely just getting started.